Luke 15:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And he spake this parable unto them, saying,”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus answers the murmuring not with argument but with a parable — the first movement of a three-part story about lost things found.
What Does Luke 15:3 Mean?
The "them" is the murmuring Pharisees and scribes of verse 2. Jesus does not defend his table with a lecture; he tells a story, then two more — a lost sheep, a lost coin, two lost sons. Luke calls the chapter one parable: three movements of a single answer.
A parable is mercy in narrative form. It slips past raised defenses and lets the truth be felt before it is judged. Jesus will ask these critics to imagine themselves as a shepherd in open country, then let them overhear a father pleading with his resentful elder son — which is who they are. He does not denounce the murmurers; he tells them a story aimed at winning them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 15:3
What does Luke 15:3 mean?
Jesus answers the murmuring not with argument but with a parable — the first movement of a three-part story about lost things found.